Condenser



- 690,747 D. w. R. MORGAN CONDENSER Nov. 6', 1928.

Filed March 25, 1927 ZZ I F i" I T F 1z-- r I l u INVENTOR. 5 DNlR-MorQqn BY Omqa Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITEDISTATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID W. R. MORGAN, OF, SWART'HMOEE, EENNSY LVANIA, ASSIGNOR T WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYI'J- VANIA.

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Application filed March 23, 1927. Serial No. 177,714.

My invention relates to tubular heat exchangers, such, for example, as surface condensers, and the like. In the operation of equipment of this general class, it has been found that smooth flow, such as is usually assumed to take place through all of the tubes, does not, in fact, take place through many of the tubes; and, under operating conditions, it may occur that, in certain tubes, the water stream forms vortices, or more orless flat, or extended spirals, especially for the first two or three feet of the tube,

The tubes in which these irregular conditions of flow, prevail may be in any part of the nest, although these conditions are usually the most noticeable in a relatively small area of the nest.

It has been found thatthe whirling action, or irregular flow of-the stream of circulating media is largely responsible for premature failures of the tubes, due to the fact that gaseous media, such as air, or the like, which has become entangled 1.1]. the stream of circulatinginedia, caused to ii'npinge against drawing, in which:

the walls of the tubes, and this attack may be so serious as to cause a failure in a few weeks, or even days.

lVhile conditions, such as these, are most commonly found in installations where circulating media is made up under estaurine or marine conditions, it will be understood that these difficulties may be encountered under various similar conditions.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to.

provideineans for improving the operation of a device of the type described and to pre-e clude,fso far as possible, the corrosive action of entrained gases on the. tubes and other parts of the circulating system. e

Other and further ObJQClEE-S of my lIlVBIlblOll will appear as the description proceeds.

Apparatus embodying the features of my invention 1S shown 1n the accompanying Fig. 1 is an elevation,partly in section, showing a surface condense-r provided with means embodying my invention and,

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of apparatus which may be used with the arrangement shown in Fig. 1. s According to myinvention, means are providedfor de-aerating circulating media at some suitable point before it enters the circulating system ofacondenser, or the like.

be liberated by the circulatingmedia while in such a finely divided condition. While any suitable air removal apparatus may be used withmy invention, means are prefer. ably provlded for utilizing the actionof circulating media discharged from thecondenser as a means for de-aerating that circulating media, which is about to enter the condenser.

In Fig. 1, I show a surface condenser 10,

which'n ay be a Vertical, double-pass con denser, as shown, or any other tubularheat exchanger. The condenser consists of a shell 11, an inlet water box 12 and a return water box 13. ,The water box 12 isprovided with a connection 14, for admitting circulating media, and with a discharge connection 16.,

Suitable fluid translating means, such for example, as the circulating pump 17, may

be provided. The pump 17 discharges into the intake conduit 18, from whence the circulating media passes into a chamber 19, in which a number of trays 21 are arranged to cause thecirculating media to spread out. into a relatlvely thin stream, and to cascade over thevarious trays tothe discharge orifice 22, and through the connection 14 to the inlet water box 12. A suitable connection 23 is provided in the upper portion of thechamber 19, preferably on the top of the chamber as shown, and this connection 23 may lead toany suitable air removal apparatus, as to an air ejector or the like.

Preferably, however, I provide means for removing airfrom the chamber 19, through the connection 23, by the suction produced by circulating media passing through. the discharge conduit 24. In the arrangement shown this meanstakesthe form of, a mem ber 26,'which isprovided with an annular recess 27, and is adapted to lit the periphery of the discharge conduit 24.. The member 26.

is so arranged as to form an annular chainber with the peripheral surface ofthe dis.- charge conduit. Suitable openings are provided in the discharge conduit, such as ports 28, which are arranged to provide communi-- cation'lbetween the annular chamber 2? and pass through the intake conduit 18, and into the chamber 18-, in which the stream of media will be diffused over a wider area, and Will pass in relatively thin streams overthe various trays 21, and,ei'inally, through theinlet connection 14:, to the inlet Waterbox 12. The circulatin media then nasses throu h D V v i 40 F b the condenser tothe Water box 10, rroin whence it is returned again to the Water box v media discharged from tlieunit.

12,. and is discharged through the connection 16 to the discharge condu t 24:.

The action of the; circulating media, in

passingby the ports QS'in the discharge conduit, is such as to produce suction in the chamber 27. The chamber 27 is, of course,

arranged at such a distance, below the level oi" the connection 23 to the chamber 19, to

make available theproper dilierence in pres sure to produce the suction in the chamber 27, which is. required to Withdraw gaseous media through the connection 2-3, to the chamber'27, and, through t-lie ports 28', into the discharge conduit; i

It" will thus be seen that means are provided forliberatingentrained gases from,"

circulating media, and for by-passing'such gaseous media around the heat exchanger, and for again entraining such gases-1n the In Fig. 2,1. shoiva modified form otdeaerating apparatus, which may be llSQtlfWltlI thearrangement shown inFig. 1. This apparatus comprises a shell 31', 'arrange'd to provide a chamber32, having an inlet orifice V 33,.and a discharge orifice 34. A connection,

consisting'ota flanged, tubular member 36,

is inserted throughthe: inlet orifice33, and

extends Well into the chamber 32 A tray 37 I is provided toireceivea fluid passing through thetubular member 36,and*the tray is so located, with relation to'the member 36; that fluid, discharged tronrthemember 36, fills the tray, and; overflows, about the upper periplieryof the tray, 'in' a1relati'vely thin stream. After passing overthe. tray 37, the

fluid then passes through the discharge orifice 3a, and the connection 14, to theinlet Water box 12, and through the condenser, as

described in connection with 1'. A's-nit able air removal connection arranged to conunu nic'ate with an upper region of the chamber 32, and if desired, this connection may pass through the-upper surface o'i 't he shell 31,a's shown. I I,

While; Withthe tie-aerating apparatus just described I may use'the airremoval means shown in Fig. l, I have shown an air ejector 39"Wl1-1Cl1' 1s provided with" anfentraimng.

chamber 41, a steam inlet 42 and a diffuser 431. H o I lVhile I have shown my invention in two forms, it Will be obvious to those skilled in the art-that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, Without departin from the spirit thereof, and l desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the What. I claim is:

appended claims.

1. In apower installation, the combination of a surface condenser, an intake conduit and-a discharge conduit therefor, means for removing gaseous media from the intake conduit, and means for entraining such gaseous media in fluid passing through the discharge conduit. 1

2; In a powerinstallation, the combination of a surface condenser, an intake-conduit. and a discharge conduit therefor, and means for lay-passing gaseous media from the intake conduit to the discharge conduit.

3. Means for passing circulating media to a condenser comprising an -inlet connectionon the condenser, an intake conduit, an enlarged section joining the intake conduit and the-inlet connection, one or more trays in said enlarged section and disposed transversely to the direction offiuid" low between said intake conduitand said inlet c'onnection of-fluid flow to the inlet connect-ion for tl'iecond'enser, a discharge conduit connected to the discharge connectiomsaid discharge conduit having one ormore ports in the Walls thereof, and means forconnecting said ports Withsaid chamber;

5. In a power installation, the 'combination ot a condenser, an inlet connection-and an outlet connection for'circu'lating media: for the condenser, a chamber having'an-inlet andarranged' to discharge into saidinlet connection, one or more t'rayslin saidchamberand disposed transversely to the direc-.

ti on; of fluid flow to the inlet connection: for.

the condenser, a discharge conduit connected to the discharge connection, said discharge conduit having one or more ports inclined from the outer surface to the-inner surface of said .dischargeconduit inlthedirection of fluid flow therethrough, and means for connecting said .ports Wlllll sald' chamber.

'6. In a power installation, the combinertion of a condenser, an inlet connection and an; outlet connection. for circulating. media.

charge conduit connected to the discharge.

connection, said discharge conduit having one or more ports inclined from the outer surface to the inner surface thereof in the direction of fluid flow therethrough, and means for connecting said ports With said deaerat-or.

8. In a power installation, the combination of a condenser, an inlet connection and an outlet connection for circulating media for the condenser, a deaerator arranged to discharge into saidinlet connection, and an aspirator for removing gaseous media from the deaerator.

9. In a power installation, the combina-' tion of a condenser, an inlet connection and an outlet connection for circulating media for the condenser, a deaerator arranged to discharge into said inlet connection, and means for utilizing the flow of circulating media discharged from the condenser for removing gaseous media from the deaerator.

10. In a power installation, the combination of a condenser, an inlet connection and an outlet connection for circulating media for the condenser, a deaerator arranged to discharge into said inlet connection, a discharge conduit connected to said discharge connection, a passage from the deaerator to said discharge conduit, and means for utilizing the flow of circulating media through said discharge conduit for drawing gaseous media from the deaerator through said passage and into the stream of media in the discharge conduit.

11. The method of operating a condenser which comprises passing circulating media through the condenser, removing aseous media from the circulating media be ore the latter enters the condenser, and entraining such gaseous media in circulating media discharged from the condensen 12. The method of operating a condenser which comprises translating circulating mediato a region above the condenser, continually removing gaseous media from this region, causing the circulating media to cascade in small streams through this region, and utilizing the force of gravity for passing circulating media from this region through the condenser.

13. The method of operating a condenser which comprises translating circulating media to a region above the condenser, utilizing the flow of circulating media from the condenser for removing gaseous media from said region, causing the circulating media to cascadein small streams through said region, and utilizing the potential energy of the circulating media for passing it from said region through the condenser.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this eleventh day of March, 1927.

7 DAVID W. R. MORGAN. 

